The Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Workers (POEDIN) has announced a nationwide strike today, from 12:00 to 15:00, calling for the permanent hiring of contract workers in Greece's public health sector.
POEDIN's demands center on addressing the precarious employment status of thousands of healthcare staff.
While a recent legislative amendment extended contracts until 2025, the union criticized the continuation of job insecurity for contract workers.
According to POEDIN, public hospitals face a critical shortfall of approximately 45,000 staff. Currently, 25,000 contract workers of various categories—including auxiliary staff, public employment agency workers, and specialized nursing trainees—fill these gaps, alongside 5,000 fixed-term staff in cleaning, security, and catering services.
These latter groups face dismissal as hospitals increasingly outsource these services to private contractors.
The union is urging Greece's political leadership to take unified action to overcome any constitutional hurdles and secure the permanent employment of healthcare workers.
The strike highlights ongoing concerns about workforce stability in the country's public health system, particularly during a time when the sector is under immense strain.